Netflix Recommended TVs May Not Be Worth Hype

Netflix Recommended TVs May Not Be Worth Hype

Netflix announced today (Apr. 7) its first batch of Netflix Recommended TVs — smart TVs that Netflix certifies as making the streaming service better than ever. But before you run out and buy a whole new television set to get the most out of the ubiquitous TV and movie provider, consider that Netflix Recommended TVs don’t add much to the streaming experience.

Via its blog, Netflix shared news of the first-ever Netflix Recommended TVs: Sony’s line of Android HDTVs, LG 4K UHD TVs with the webOS 2.0 operating system, and Roku TVs from Hisense, Insignia and TCL. In a nutshell, the Netflix Recommended program evaluates how well a smart TV works, from start-up time to ease of accessing apps.

Here’s the important thing to remember, though: Netflix evaluates smart TVs primarily on how well they run Netflix, not on their overall performance with all content. For example, if a TV’s remote control has a dedicated Netflix button, that feature that could help the TV earn a Netflix Recommendation. Furthermore, the Netflix Recommended TV certification does not appear to take video or audio quality into account.

What exactly does a Netflix Recommended TV get you? While Netflix cites features like Instant On functionality, which wakes your TV up ready to go, like a smartphone, not every Netflix Recommended TV has this feature. Still, Instant On is a feather in a prospective TV’s cap, as is an easy-to-navigate apps section, which puts less time between turning on the TV and tuning into Netflix. LG’s webOS 2.0 also features improvements that supposedly help Netflix launch faster than on competing models. Netflix describes what it looks for in TVs with a video in the company’s blog post.

Easy access to Netflix and intuitive app menus are good features, but the lack of certification doesn’t mean a smart TV is bad or won’t be fine to watch Netflix on. No matter which smart TV you end up purchasing, its manufacturer has probably taken great pains to ensure that the most popular streaming service runs like clockwork.